There are hotels – and then there are extraordinary hotels: Pension Leuchtenburg on Lake Kaltern in South Tyrol is undoubtedly among the latter. This laid-back refuge with just twelve rooms and its own lakefront property on the gloriously turquoise "Lago," as locals call it, was recently completely reimagined – "women made," as young host Kat proudly emphasizes. She took over the property from her parents and used the pandemic to develop a new concept: transforming it into a kind of "Pension 2.0" – a refuge for adults where quiet luxury sets the tone. And the special "vibes" are still palpable: the house's origins reach back to the 13th century. As one of the oldest buildings on Lake Kaltern, it originally served as an agricultural structure and was closely connected to the Leuchtenburg fortress above it – a now-buried tunnel still bears witness to this connection. With its gray walls and red-and-white shutters, it still evokes a small medieval castle – now transformed into a luxurious adults-only retreat.

For the redesign, Kat – Katharina Sparer – brought in architect Christina Biasi von Berg from the Bolzano-based studio Biquadra, who specializes in the sensitive treatment of heritage-listed buildings. Rather than radical interventions, the focus was on thoughtful evolution of the centuries-old structure. Load-bearing structures, historical elements, and spatial peculiarities remained largely untouched. While the building's structure comes across as robust and "masculine," the interior design strategy deliberately employs color as a balancing element. The color palette draws inspiration from the historical furnishings distributed throughout the house and from the surrounding landscape: petrol tones mirror the lake, warm yellow hues reflect the sun-facing side of the slope against which the house nestles. Regional materials and traditional craftsmanship are central design motifs. South Tyrolean wood, porphyry stone, and other natural materials define the space. Most of the furniture comes from local craftsmen, complemented by carefully curated vintage pieces – including hand-painted farmhouse furniture that has been thoughtfully integrated as characterful remnants of the past.

Chef Luca serves breakfast as well as multi-course dinners on the so-called "Terrazza" with lake views – a newly created lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the main building. Vegetables come from a local organic farmer, meat from South Tyrol, and wine from organic producers in the region. Guests are welcome to dress extravagantly or casually – "however they feel most comfortable," Kat emphasizes. Just a few steps away lies the lakefront property – where a generous sunbathing lawn with boathouse, pedal boats, and rowboats await enthusiastic guests, along with a panoramic sauna. Leuchtenburg also features a stylish spa area – and it's anything but ordinary. A sauna crafted from walnut wood from the Sarntal Valley fits seamlessly into a historic vault in the basement. Completing the offering are a living room with a record player, a cozy lounge, and of course, a fine selection of wine.

www.leuchtenburg.it